Dinky Diner Rhinelander, Wi.

They aren't kidding...it is definitely dinky. Not that it is a bad thing. The dining room is very small with 7 or 8 tables and a dining counter with several stools. Some of the tables are hand painted with various different designs. The staff are unlike any other staff at other diners that I have been to previously. When the waitress was busy and the cook put up his last order, he came out to the dining room to deliver the order to the customers and take orders for other customers. Kudos for that!!! How do I know that it was the cook? His cooking station is open and just behind the dining counter. You can watch him cook everything if you want. Which, of course, I did. I found it quite entertaining. The waitress was very friendly and also different from most. We ordered  a breakfast item that was similar to an item on the lunch menu. She didn't ask "Breakfast or lunch?" like most servers do. She actually  asked  "Would you like the breakfast with eggs and choice of potato, or lunch with choice of potato?"  She also clarified the english muffin order with"Would you like the actual english muffin or english muffin toast? We have both." Kudos again!!! Now to the food. The breakfast portions on the mexican omelette is large enough for two. Personally, I thought the seasoned meat was a bit under seasoned. However, with the onions, peppers and cheese, then topped with the sour cream and salsa, you really don't notice. The hashbrowns were very crispy, seasoned slightly (without being salty) and buttery (without being greasy). Overall it wasn't bad. I will go another time to check out the lunch menu.

Famous Dave's Wisconsin Dells

Although Wisconsin Dells is not in "The Northwoods" area, I just had to tell you about my experience there. When we arrived there were people waiting, but the wait was not long. Our server was friendly enough but probably the slowest that I have ever seen. We sat there for 5 minutes before he came to take our drink order, 12 minutes waiting for him to bring our drinks and another 11 minutes to return to take our order. Yes...I actually timed him. So, after almost half an hour we finally got to order our food. They were busy so I half expected a bit of a wait for the food to arrive. I was right, it took quite a while (got distracted from my watch).  Now I am not a person who cares for meat "by itself". What I mean is that I prefer meats be prepared IN something. For example: stir fry, lasagne, Thai dishes, casseroles...you get the idea. I ordered Huli Buli Chicken. I have to say that they were the BEST chicken thighs I have ever had. Moist, juicy, flavorful and practically falling off the bone. The sauce was so delicious...I wish they marketed it so I could have some at home. My 2 chosen sides to accompany the chicken, corn cob and cornbread muffin were the garlic mashed red potatos and drunken apples. I will not order the potatos again. They were very salty and I couldn't taste garlic at all. The apples though were delicious. Overall the food (except the potatos) was worth the wait. I will definatley visit again provided I have a leisurely amount of time for a meal.

The Cookery Sugar Camp, Wi.

I was told that this place is awesome so I had to go check it out. My own opinion though is mixed. This is a very small, quaint place. They have 8 tables and a good sized dining counter in their cute little dining room. The 1 staff member that we met was very friendly. Between all in my party we tried items from both the breakfast and the lunch menu. Like most Family restaurants they cook many things from frozen. Not always a bad thing if cooked well. Here is where I get mixed up. My hashbrowns were greasy and tasted burned, another in my party said their hashbrowns were not greasy at all, cooked crispy but not burned. One in our party who ordered lunch was grossed out. Anyone who knows anything about cooking seafood knows to de-vein shrimp and why. Well, theirs comes pre-frozen so they most likely don't know that it has not been de-veined. You make your own decision as to whether or not you choose to eat it that way.  Their cocktail sauce is very good. Some of the items are "homemade" at their restaurant. The items we had that were made fresh there were excellent. I will return some day for lunch to see if I have a less mixed up opinion on lunch service. By the way...if you decide to try the Cookery for yourself, keep in mind that they are only open from 6am-2pm according to the sign out front.

Olive Garden Wausau, Wi.

Yes, that's right...Olive Garden. Corporate owned restaurants are not exempt. I love this place! The food is excellent!! The staff are very friendly and helpful. The desserts are amazing!! Be prepared to wait going here, they are usually very busy. And why wouldn't they be? They are Olive Garden after all.   Kudos!!

El Mez Minocqua, Wi.

This is a fairly new restaurant to the Northwoods. The staff are very friendly. Unfortunately I found the food to be a bit bland. I would have put their house salsa on it but it too did not have the flavor that I expected from a salsa at a Mexican restaurant. Sorry El Mez...I would rather eat at Taco Bell. This is only my opinion. GQ Public needs to visit the establishment to form their own opinions.

Casa Real Rhinelander, Wi.

This Mexican restaurant seems to be an authentic family style place to go. The food is pretty good, the staff are friendly. The only issue here is that some of the staff do not seem to be familiar with the behavior of small children. If you visit this restaurant with small children be aware that the plates and food are very hot when brought to the table and sometimes placed right in front of the child. I love Mexican food. Casa Real has yet to disappoint my tastebuds with any dish they have served me.

Friendship House Rhinelander, Wi.

I have a couple of minor issues here. 1} They have a dessert case by the cash register. It all looks good but I can't help but ask...How long has that stuff been in there?  2} The menu has so many items it takes a good 20 minutes or more to look over everything and decide what you want. The pictures in the menu make the food look unappealing. I actually was going to order an item until I saw the picture. I immediately changed my mind and looked {forever} for something else. The staff though are very friendly and the owner follows up with customers at their tables making sure everything is going well for them. When the food came it was as good as you would expect a family restaurant to be. I would go there again if I was looking for a decent family dining restaurant.

Peking Chinese Restaurant Rhinelander, Wi.

We ordered take out here. Not a problem. We were able to pick it up within 15 minutes even though we were serving a family of 5. I found the food here to be pretty good. They have no problem with special orders or substitutions on much of the menu but they have a strict no substitutions rule on their lunch menu. Overall they were pretty good. The staff were friendly and the food was hot and prepared exactly as ordered.

Wolff's Log Cabin Rhinelander, Wi.

Ok...I guess everyone can have a bad day. I have been visiting this restaurant for 11 or more years and never had a problem before. This is usually a good family restaurant. Today they had issues. Our server seemed like she would rather be anywhere else but there. She was not rude, just short, mechanical and unfriendly. Like I said...everyone can have a bad day. I have never had this particular server before but every other time I have visited we have had very friendly service. Have you ever been to a restaurant that had to make a substitution to your dish and they did not give you, the customer, an option for the substitution or changing your order? I know I haven't. That is exactly what happened. They were out of something normally used for the dish that I ordered. Instead of telling me and giving me options they just made the substitution. Unfortunately their idea of a good enough replacement was something that I do not like. Yes I was irritated. But what bothered me most was that my server didn't care enough to talk to me about it first.  I know all of this sounds bad...please refer to the earlier comments...everyone can have a bad day.  Wolff's Log Cabin is actually, in my opinion, a pretty good place to go if you are looking for family dining. Normally the service and food are pretty good.

Fireside Supper Club Rhinelander, Wi.

I have to admit...the best word to describe the food here is  WOW!!!  I had never heard anything about this place from the locals here. I went with my Husband to try it out and we will surely be going back!   Everything was obviously made fresh that day. I could taste that nothing at all came from a can or freezer.  The service was very friendly. The server that we had really knows how to take care of her customers. In fact...every staff member that we saw greeted us with a smile and a friendly "Hello".  You will surely be missing out if you choose not to dine at the Fireside Supper Club. Excellent food, wonderful service and a nice "homey" dining room.  Kudos!!!